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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


WiTH&RAWN 


COUmt:-     ^^:   f:    l\U^M 


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date: 


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AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS  OF 
'  PHILADELPHIA. 

BY  G.  E.    DE  SCHWEINITZ,  A.M.,  M.D. 
President  of  the  College. 


BeprintedfromTnternatioiKtl  C/m?o.s,    Vol.  I.,  Tinfnty-second  Serief<. 


Copyright,  igia,  by  J.  B.  LlPPlNCOTT  COMPANY,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


library 

kJS 
) 

AN  ACCOUNT      ^l^ 

OF  lilX 

THE  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS 

OF  PHIIADELPHIA 

BY 

G.  E.  DE    SCHWEINITZ,  A  M.,  M.D. 

President  of  The  College 


1  he  (Jrujiii  of  the  College  of  Physicians, — 
J^-^"w"Ihof  ;3<nj^n<-^f /lM5^     Tlif^   prototype  of  the   College  was  the  Koyal 

\|  y>  Presentea  Dy  ur.  KODert  AUbe         Culltge    of    PhjsicianS    of    Loildoil,    Lilt    tO    whoSC 

W'  initiative  its  foiiiidatic:i  is  due  is  not  definitely  known.     Doubtless 
to  more  than  one  man  this  credit  belongs. 

As  early  as  1767  John  Morgan  made  proposals  to  Thomas  Penn 
for  the  erection  of  a  College  of  Physicians.  These  proposals,  how- 
ever, failed  to  meet  with  favorable  reception  and  a  charter  was 
refused.  A  number  of  Philadelphia  physicians,  who  subsequently 
became  Fellows  of  the  College,  went,  after  their  graduation  from  the 
Medical  School  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia  (later  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania),  to  Edinburgh  for  the  completion  of  their  studies. 
It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  success  of  the  society  in  that  city  stimu- 
lated them,  as  Weir  Mitchell  suggests,  to  imitate  it  here.  More- 
over, these  physicians  naturally  formed  friendships  with  influential 
men  in  Scotland  and  England,  and  doubtless,  in  the  correspondence 
which  subsequently  was  carried  on  between  them,  the  foundation  of 
a  College  of  Physicians  was  frequently  broached.  Indeed,  Samuel 
Powell  Griffitts,  writing  in  1783,  expressly  states  that  the  idea  of 
an  American  College  of  Physicians  had  several  times  occurred  to 
him.  Dr.  Puschenberger's  researches  indicate  that  the  College  of 
Physicians  was  not  actually  instituted  until  September,  1786,  the 
first  election  of  officers  having  been  held  in  October  of  the  same  year. 

'      "Drawin'i?  bv  Erwin  F.  Faher.   Photo:;raphs  by  Joseph  N.  Pearce. 

1 


795250 


2 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


But  tlie  first  meeting  after  its  full  organization,  at  which  nine  senior 
and  four  junior  Fellows  were  present,  did  not  take  place  until  Jan- 
uary 2,  1787,  and  this  day,  therefore,  by  common  consent,  is  re- 
garded as  its  official  birthday. 

The  minutes  of  this  meeting  record  that  the  officers  of  the  Col- 
lege were :  President,  John  Redman ;  vice-president,  John  Jones ; 
treasurer,  Gerardus  Clarkson ;  secretary,  James  Hutchinson ;  censors, 
William  Shippen,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Rush,  John  Morgan,  and  Adam 
Kuhn.  "  A  fair  copy  "  of  the  constitution  was  signed  by  the  mem- 
bers present,  and  the  publication 
of  this  constitution  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Packet  and  Daily  Adver- 
tiser, February  1,  1787,  was  au- 
thorized. One  month  later,  at  the 
stated  meeting  of  the  College,  the 
secretary  reported  that  the  con- 
stitution had  been  published  as 
directed.  A  device  for  a  seal  was 
submitted  and,  slightly  modified, 
was  adopted  so  as  to  read  non 
sihi  sed  toti.  The  seal  was  or- 
dered to  be  cut  with  this 
legend :  "  Sigillum  Collegii  Medi- 
e..rum,  Philadelphia  Institut.,  A.  D.,  MDCCLXXXVII." 

Objects  and  Composition  of  the  College. — The  Constitution  of 
the  College  of  Physicians  thus  signed,  sealed,  and  published  records 
that  "  the  objects  of  this  College  are,  to  advance  the  Science  of 
Medicine,  and  thereby  to  lessen  Human  Misery,  by  investigating 
the  diseases  and  remedies  which  are  peculiar  to  our  Country,  by 
observing  the  effects  of  different  seasons,  climates,  and  situations 
upon  the  Human  body,  by  recording  the  changes  that  are  produced 
in  diseases  by  the  progress  of  Agriculture,  Arts,  Population,  and 
Manners,  by  searching  for  Medicines  in  our  Woods,  Waters,  and 
the  bowels  of  the  Earth,  by  enlarging  our  avenues  to  knowledge  from- 
the  discoveries  and  publications  of  foreign  Countries ;  by  appoint- 
ing stated  times  for  Literary  intercourse  and  communications,  and 
by  cultivating  order  and  uniformity  in  the  practice  of  Physick." 

This  document  further  directs  that  the  College  shall  consist  of 


John  Redman 
First  President,   1786-1805 


THE    . COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


^^M^^^^^;^ 


William  Shippen 
President  from  1805  until  1808 


twelve  senior  Fellows  and  an  in- 
definite number  of  junior  and  as- 
sociate Fellows ;  the  senior  and 
junior  Fellows  to  be  chosen  from 
physicians  who  resided  "  in  the 
City  or  District  of  Southwark  or 
Liberties  of  Philadelphia,"  and 
the  associates  to  be  selected  from 
"  such  persons  of  merit  in  the 
profession  of  medicine  "  who  did 
not  live  within  these  described 
limits.  The  senior  fellowship  of  the 
College  was  maintained  by  the  ele- 
vation of  juniors  within  one  month 
after  a  vacancy  was  declared. 
Thus  the  juniors,  in  the  language 
of  Frederick  P.  Henry,  formed  a  waiting  list,  and  while  they  waited 
doubtless  the  censors,  of  whom  there  were  four,  as  there  are  now, 
made  sure  that  there  had  been  no  transgression  "  of  good  moral 
character  and  decent  deportment,"  which  Rule  4  prescribed  as  a 
sine  qua  non  of  eligibility.  This  distinction  between  senior  and 
junior  Fellows  was  not  long  maintained,  and  the  amended  form  of 
Constitution  adopted  jSTovember  6.  17^7 
shall  consist  of  Fellow^s  and  Asso- 
ciates." This  amended  Constitu- 
tion has  been  signed  by  every  Fel- 
low of  the  College  since  its  adop- 
tion on  the  date  named. 

Two  years  after  the  foundation 
of  the  College,  Richard  Peters 
signed,  by  order  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  Freemen  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylva- 
fiia,  An  Act  for  the  Incorporation 


of  the  College  of  Physicians,  which 
declares  that  "the  members  ol 
the  said  College  of  Physicians  be. 

Adam  Kdhn 

and  shall  be,  a  body  corporate  and  president  from  isos  until  isis 


(lirfcts  that  "  the  College 


4:  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

politic  in  deed  and  in  name,  by  the  name  and  style  of  '^The  College 
OF  Physicians  of  Philadelphia.'  "  In  Philadelphia,  on  Thurs- 
day, the  26th  of  March,  1Y89,  this  charter  was  enacted  into  a  law. 
The  name  College  was  chosen  with  the  understanding  that  it 
should  have  tlie  same  significance  it  had  in  Roman  law:  a  number 
of  persons  associated  together  by  possession  of  common  functions, 
i.e.,  a  body  of  colleagues.  Benjamin  Push,  in  the  first  paper  which 
he  read  before  this  collegiate  body  on  February  6,  178Y,  said :     "  By 


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FIRST    HOME    OF    THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    IX    THE    OLD    COLLEGE    OF   THE 
UNIVERSITY    OF   PENNSYLVANIA 

assuming  the  name  of  a  College,  we  shall  first  be  able  to  introduce 
order  and  dignity  into  the  practice  of  physic,  by  establishing  incen- 
tives and  rewards  for  character.  Men  are  generally  anxious  to 
preserve  the  good  opinion  of  those  with  whom  they  are  obliged  to 
associate.  The  reception  we  shall  meet  with  from  each  other  in 
our  meetings  will  serve  to  correct  or  to  improve  our  conduct.  And 
if  w'e  are  as  chaste  as  w^e  should  be,  in  the  admission  of  members, 
a  fellowship  in  our  college  will  become  in  time  not  only  the  sign  of 
ability,  but  an  introduction  to  business  and  reputation  in  physic." 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICLVNS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


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6  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHL4. 

The  College  never  has  been  a  teaching  institution  in  the  ordinary 
sense  of  that  term,  nor  has  it  the  power  to  confer  degrees.  It  has 
the  right  only  to  bestow  Fellowship  and  Associate  Fellowship  npon 
those  who  are  eligible  for  these  honors  and  to  elect  a  limited  number 
of  Corresponding  Members.  This  Collegium,  therefore,  is  a  scien- 
tific body,  and  once  a  month,  except  during  July,  August,  and 
September,  meetings  are  held  at  which  papers  on  medical,  surgical, 
and  allied  subjects  are  read  and  discussed.  These  communications 
are  published  in  the  Transactions,  the  hrst  volume  of  which  appeared 
in  July,  1793. 

Between  iSTovember,  1841,  and  January,  1850,  three  volumes  of 
Transactions  were  issued,  and  in  November  of  this  year  a  new  series 
of  the  summary  of  the  Transactions  of  the  College  was  begim,  and 
continued  until  July,  1857.  Then  an  arrangement  was  made  with 
the  American  Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences  by  which  papers 
read  before  the  College  were  published  in  that  journal  and  separate 
copies  were  supplied  for  the  use  of  the  Fellows.  This  arrangement 
continued  in  force  until  November,  1874.  The  first  volume  of  the 
Third  Series  of  the  Transactions  was  issued  in  1875,  and  the  eighth 
in  1880.  Each  year  since  that  date  a  volume  of  Transactions  has 
been  printed.^ 

The  first  meetings  of  the  College  were  held  in  the  old  Academy 
at  Fourth  and  Arch  Streets  in  the  afternoon  of  the  first  Tuesday  in 
each  month.  Now  the  meetings  take  place  on  the  first  Wednesday 
of  each  month,  July,  August,  and  September  excepted,  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening. 

The  gatherings  of  the  Fellows  of  the  College  have  not  always 
been  concerned  alone  with  the  discussion  of  scientific  matters,  but, 

^  Other  publications  of  the  College  during  this  period  have  been  the  follow- 
ing: ''The  Proceedings  of  the  College  of  Physicians  Relative  to  the  Prevention 
of  the  Introduction  and  Spreading  of  Contagious  Diseases,"  a  pamphlet  pub- 
lished in  1798;  "Facts  and  Observations  Relative  to  the  Nature  and  Origin  of 
the  Pestilential  Fever  which  Prevailed  in  this  City  in  1793,  1797,  and  1798/"'  a 
pamphlet  published  in  1800;  Dr.  Wistar's  Eulogium  on  Dr.  William  Shippen, 
delivered  in  1809  and  published  in  1818;  Dr.  Rush's  Eulogium  on  Dr.  William 
Cullen,  delivered  July  9,  1790;  "An  Essay  on  the  Yellow  Fever  of  1702  in 
Philadelphia,"  by  Dr.  John  Redman,  read  September  3,  1793,  and  printed  in 
1805;  "The  Charter,  Constitution,  and  By-laws  of  the  College  of  Physicians," 
printed  privately  for  the  use  of  the  Fellows  in  1790,  the  last  edition  being  that 
of  1900.     Additional  publications  will  be  found  mentioned  in  the  Bibliography. 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


in  the  language  of  Dr.  Tjson,  ''  The  College  early  assumed  a  g-uar- 
dianship  over  the  health,  safety,  and  even  the  morals  of  the  com- 
munity." The  first  standing  committee,  that  on  Meteorology  and 
Epidemics,  was  appointed  March  6,  1787,  and  it  presented  a  yearly 
report  until  it  was  abolished  in  A^ovember,  1882,  a  period  of  95 
years. 

From  1793  until  1798  yellow  fever  prevailed  in  Philadelphia. 
Indeed,  from  1793  until  1806  no  year  was  entirely  free  from  its 
baleful  influence.  During  this  period  the  Fellows  of  the  College 
were  active  in  their  labors,  giving  freely  of  their  service  in  attend- 
ance on  the  sick  and  suffering,  and  of  their  time  in  frequent  con- 
ferences among  themselves  that  they  might,  working  in  conjunction 


b  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

with  the  city  aud  iState  authorities,  devise  meaus  and  ways  ior 
checking  the  progress  of  the  epidemics.  Unfortunately,  these  con- 
ferences were  fai'  from  harmonious,  some  of  tiie  Jb'eilows  be- 
lieving that  the  disease  was  of  local  origin  and  others  that  it  had 
been  imported,  and  each  faction  maintained  its  opinion  in  vigorous 
and  often  acrimonious  debate.  fcJo,  too,  dilferences  of  opinion  arose 
between  the  i'ellows  and  the  members  of  the  iioard  of  Health,  espec- 
ially as  to  the  etiology  of  the  disease,  the  pathway  of  contagion,  the 
value  of  public  notihcation  and  the  need  of  quarantine,  in  spite  of 
these  disturbing  elements,  much  good  was  accomplished,  and  all  of 
the  i'ellows  of  the  College,  no  matter  what  their  individual  opinions 
may  have  been,  were  untiringly  brave  in  the  performance  of  their 
duties.  Two  founders  of  the  College  died  of  the  disease,  and  others 
were  seriously  ill.  Even  as  late  as  1820,  when  yellow  fever  for  the 
last  time  visited  Philadelphia,  the  College  through  its  committees 
urged  the  view  which  it  had  adopted  originally,  namely,  that  the 
disease  was  imported  and  that  it  spread  by  contagion. 

During  the  earlier  years  of  its  existence  the  activities  of  the 
College  pertaining  to  the  maintenance  of  public  health  and  the  im- 
provement of  public  morals  were  noteworthy.  For  example,  its 
ajDpointment  in  1787  of  a  committee  to  submit  plans  for  establishing 
cold  and  hot  baths  and  a  botanical  garden  for  the  city ;  its  consulta- 
tion with  the  State  Legislature  over  the  spread  of  infectious  dis- 
eases in  1789 ;  its  consideration  in  1794  of  "  the  regulation  of  tlie 
practice  of  physic  within  the  State,"  and  of  the  establishment  of  a 
quarantine  and  a  hospital  for  contagious  diseases  at  the  request 
of  the  various  authorities  concerned;  its  work  in  conjunction  with 
the  .Board  of  Health  of  the  city  in  the  management  of  the  epidemic 
of  cholera  in  1788 ;  its  memorialization  of  the  State  Legislature  in 
1787  and  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  in  1790  on  the 
deleterious  effect  of  alcohol  on  the  human  system  and  the  need  of 
laws  regulating  its  consumption;  and  its  important  actions  in  rela- 
tion to  the  preparation  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the  United  States, 
begun  in  1788.  In  each  decennial  revision  of  this  work  tlie  College 
has  taken  an  active  part. 

Always  ready  to  maintain  proper  regulation  of  animal  experi- 
mentation, the  College  has  been  insistent  that  experiments  upon 
living  animals  are  an  absolute  necessity  in  scientific  work.     In  this 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PIIYSICLVNS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


10  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PIIYSICtANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

respect,  especially  since  1885,  when  the  College  first  sent  a  remon- 
strance to  the  Legislature  against  a  bill  to  prevent  such  experiments, 
it  has  proved  to  he  a  veritable  research-defence  society,  with  the  sole 
object  in  view,  as  Sir  William  Osier  would  say,  of  keeping  the  field 


MAIN   STAIRWAY    WITH    STATUE   OF   .«;SCDLAPIUS, 


clear  for  tlie  free  advance  of  science  in  the  interests  of  onr  fellow- 
creatures. 

Space  does  not  jDermit  an  elaboration  of  the  important  work 
which  the  College  has  performed  in  its  efforts  to  prevent  pollution 
of  the  water  supply   of  the  city,  in  its  insistence  upon  the  regis- 


^IHE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


11 


tratiun  of  births  and  deaths,  in  its  urging  the  passage  of  laws  for 
the  inspection  of  drugs,  in  its  aid  in  early  days  in  the  regenera^ 
tion  of  the  Board  of  Health  of  this  city,  in  its  protest  in  1855  to 
the  Legislature  against  a  bill  the  effect  of  which  would  have  been  to 
put  tlie  educational  interests  of  the  profession  into  the  hands  of 
politicians,  and  in  its  labors  to  stimulate  the  enactment  of  laws  to 
lessen  the  dangers  of  dispensing  poisonous  medicines. 


ENTRANCE  TO   THE    HUTCHINSON    RECEPTION    ROOM 


Although  in  recent  years  the  College  in  its  deliberations  has 
confined  itself  in  largest  measure  to  the  discussion  of  scientific 
matters,  and  has  shown  less  inclination  than  in  former  times  to  take 
an  active  oificial  part  in  public  affairs,  doubtless  due,  as  the  honorary 
librarian  points  out,  to  the  rise  in  influence  in  these  particulars  of 
the  county  and  State  medical  societies  (and  it  was  largely  influential 
in  1848  in  aiding  the  formation  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania), it  has  by  no  means  entirely  disregarded  them,  and  from 
time  to  time  is  consulted  in  these  respects.     It  has  been  active,  for 


12  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

example,  in  discussions  relating  to  tiie  registration  and  reporting  of 
pulmonary  tuberculosis,  in  measures  for  the  regulation  of  infectious 
diseases,  and  in  paying  sti'ict  attention  to  quarantine  laws,  it  main- 
tains a  representative  on  the  State  Quarantine  Board  who  presents 
a  triennial  report. 

The  College  at  present  is,  as  it  was  in  the  past,  always  ready  to 
be  consulted  and  to  give  advice  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  w'elfare 
of  tlie  community.  A  good  example  of  this  is  the  careful  investiga- 
tion made  by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  president  of  the  College, 
with  the  authority  of  its  Council,  at  the  request  of  the  Commissioner 
of  Health  of  the  Commonwealtli  of  Pennsylvania,  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  the  free  distribution  by  the  various  county  societies  of 
antitetanic  serum. 

To  only  a  few  of  these  public-spirited  works  of  the  College  has 
it  been  possible  to  make  reference.  They  constitute,  as  Dr.  Stille 
has  said,  an  imperfect  catalogue,  but  "  they  indicate  the  sympathetic 
interest  of  the  College  in  whatever  concerned  the  progress  and  in- 
terests of  medicine  and  the  welfare  of  the  community." 

The  Library. — Of  the  many  achievements  of  the  College,  the  estab- 
lishment of  its  library,  which  now  has  a  prominent  position  among 
the  gTeat  medical  libraries  of  the  world,  must  take  place  in  the  fore- 
most rank.  First  formally  considered  in  June,  1788,  the  library 
actually  began  in  the  donation  by  Dr.  John  Morgan  of  21  volumes. 
It  is  not  possible,  nor  indeed  necessary,  in  this  account  to  record  in 
detail  the  gTadual  acquisition  of  books,  nor  to  speak  of  the  periods 
of  time  when  the  library  was  little  used,  when  its  development 
was  puny,  and  its  existence  was  threatened.  These  have  been  well 
described  in  the  communications  by  Charles  Perry  Fisher,  Dr.  James 
Tyson,  and  Dr.  Frederick  P.  Henry. ^  At  first  books  came  in 
slowly,  the  gift  of  individual  Fellows,  who  also  gave  money  for 
the  purchase  of  books,  and  certain  sums  in  this  respect  were  ap- 
propriated by  the  College.  In  1819  the  collection  of  books  had 
grown  of  sufficient  importance  to  require  a  catalogue.  Six  years 
later  the  library  of  the  Kappa  Lambda  Society  was  acquired,  in  1848 
the  Otto  collection  was  purchased,  and  in  the  next  year  the  library 
obtained  a  number  of  books  froin    various    Fellows,    particularly 

-  See  first  footnote  and.  bibliography. 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA  18 

from  Drs.  Bond,  Condie,  Parrish,  and  Wood,  and  was  the  recipient 
of  many  volumes  from  Mrs.  Moreton  Stille.  In  1856  the  Betton 
collection  was  added  to  its  shelves,  so  that  in  1859  the  library- 
contained  about  4000  volumes  and  a  number  of  pamphlets.  But, 
to  quote  from  Mr.  Charles  Perry  Fisher,  the  most  important  epoch 
in  the  liistory  of  the  library  was  the  foundation  of  the  Lewis 
Library  in  1864,  whereby  more  than  2500  choice  volumes  in  the 
finest  condition  were  added  to  the  collection.  During  his  life  Dr. 
Lewis  gave  to  this  library  his  constant  care  and  attention,  so  that 
at  the  present  time,  with  the  additions  which  he  made  and  with 
those  made  by  his  many  friends,  it  contains  13,573  volumes. 

After  this  period  of  time  the  library  rapidly  increased  in 
size  and  importance,  and  from  1882  until  1902  it  acquired  the 
libraries  of  a  number  of  its  Pellows,  to  wit :  those  of  Dr.  Charles 
D.  Meigs,  Dr.  John  Porsyth  Meigs,  Dr.  K.  M.  Bertolet,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam P.  Jenks,  Dr.  Samuel  D.  Gross  (this  is  the  library  of  the 
Academy  of  Surgery  and  was  accepted  as  a  permanent  deposit), 
Dr.  H.  Lennox  Hodge,  Dr.  John  P.  Weightman,  Dr.  1!*T.  Archer 
Randolph,  Dr.  Jacob  M.  Da  Costa,  Dr.  John  Ashhurst,  Jr.,  Dr. 
Alfred  Stille  (the  major  portion  of  this  library  was  first  deposited 
in  the  Lewis  collection),  and  Dr.  William  P.  ISTorris.  During  this 
period  numerous  books  were  presented  by  many  Pellows,  a  large 
collection  coming  from  Dr.  T.  Minis  Hays,  and  in  1900  nearly 
7000  theses  and  inaugural  dissertations  were  received,  and  a  notable 
exchange  of  publications  was  arranged  with  foreign  universities  by 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Keen. 

In  the  year  1901,  with  the  aid  of  liberal  subscriptions  received 
from  Drs.  S.  Weir  Mitchell,  John  K.  Mitchell,  and  George  Pales 
Baker,  the  library  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  Stockton  Hough,  contain- 
ing 3247  volumes  and  2070  pamphlets,  many  of  the  books  being 
of  the  greatest  value  and  interest,  was  purchased.  Soon  after,  the 
College  received  the  library  of  the  late  Dr.  Thomas  M.  Drysdale 
and  large  gifts  of  books  from  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Ppiscopal 
Hospital  of  Philadelphia.  Through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  W.  W.  Keen, 
Sir  William  Osier,  and  Dr.  William  Landouzy,  940  inaugural 
Prench  theses  were  obtained  in  1907,  and  by  exchange  with  the 
College  Transactions  40  or  50  volumes  of  these  Paris  theses  are 
yearly  added  to  the  shelves.     Dr.   Keen   was   also  most  liberal   in 


14  THE    COLLEGIA    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PiriLADEEPHIA 

his  donation  of  a  number  of  exceedingly  rare  and  valuable  medical 
works,  among  which  21  are  incunabula. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  165  medical  incunabula  in  the 
library  of  the  College  of  Physicians — surely  a  notable  collection. 
The  titles  of  a  few  of  them  that  command  special  interest  are: 

Jacobus  Dondus  Paduanus.  Aggregator  Paduaims  de  medicinis  simpli- 
cibus.      [Strasburg,   Adolf  Rusch    (the  "R"   printer),   circa   1470.] 

Valescus  de  Taranta.  De  epidimia  et  peste.  [Circa  1470.]  Each  of  the 
above  books  has  been  credited  with  being  possibly  the  first  medical  work 
printed.     Both   are   extremely   rare   editions'. 

Matiieus  Silvaticus.  Liber  pandectaruni  niedicinae.  [Argentorati,  Joh. 
Mentelin,.   circa    1470.] 

Simon  Genuensis.  Synonynia  medicinse  s.  clavis  sanationis.  Mediolani. 
Zarotus,  1473.  [First  edition  of  the  first  medical  dictionary.  This  book  and 
the  one  following  are  the  earliest  dated  books  in  the  library  of  the  College.] 

Bartiiolom^eus  Metlinger.  Regiment  der  jnngen  Kinder.  [Angslnirg. 
Zainer   1    1473.]      [Second  Renaissance   contribution   to  pediatrics.] 

Benevenutus  Grassi.  De  oculis  eorumque  egritudinibus  et  curis.  Ferrara, 
Severinus  Ferrariensis,  Till  [1474].  [First  edition  of  the  first  book  printed  on 
diseases  of  the  eye.] 

Pedacius  Dioscorides  Anazarbeits.  De  materia  medica.  Colle,  de  Medem- 
blich.   1478.      [Said  to  be  the  first  book  printed  at  Colle.] 

Petrus  ^^gidius  Corboliensis.  Carmina  de  iirinanim  judiciis  cum  ex- 
positione  Gentilis  de  Fulgineo.  Padua,  Matheus  Cerdonis  de  Vindischgretz, 
1483.     [First   edition,   very   rare.] 

Paultjs  Bagellardits  a  Flitmine.  De  infantium  a:'gritudinil)us  et  reme- 
diis.  [Padua]  Mathjieus  Cerdonis  de  Vindischgretz,  1487.  [Second  edition  of 
the  first  book  printed  on  diseases  of  children.  First  edition  was  published  nt 
Padua  in   1472.] 

Isaac  Junius.  Tractatus  particularibus  disetis.  [Padua.]  IMathsseus  Cer- 
donis de  Vindischgretz,  1487.      [First  edition  of  the  first  book  printed  on  diet.] 

Bernard  de  Gordon.  Practica  dicta  lilium  medicinse.  Lyon,  149.5.  [First 
and  only  edition  in  French  in  the  fifteenth  century.] 

Johannes  Peyxigk.  Compendium  philosophiie  naturalis.  Liptzensi.  Mel- 
chiar  Letter,  1499.  [The  first  book  published  with  anatomical  plates  of  indi- 
vidual organs.  These  plates'  of  organs  were  copied  from  the  1498  edition  of 
Mundinus.] 

The  following  are  the  titles  of  a  few  noted  books  issued  after 
the  year  1500,  contained  in  the  College  collection. 

Symphorianus  CuAMPEaiius.  Index  librorum  in  hoc  volumine  contentorum: 
Symphoriani  Champerii  libelli  duo.  Primus  de  medicinse  claris  scriptoribus  in 
quinque  partibus  tractatus.  [Lugduni,  1506.]  [The  first  edition  of  the  first 
medical   biography,   also   bibliography,   published.] 

Joannes  Ketam.     Fascicule  di  raedecina  vulgare.     [Venetetia,  Gregorio  de 


THE    COLI.EGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


15 


Gregoriis,  1508.]      [Only  two  copies  kno\vii  of  this  edition:   this  and  one  in  the 
Public  Library  in  Venice-Stockton-Hough,  1900.] 

Thomas  Geminus.  Compendiosa  totius  anatomic  delineatio  aere  exarata. 
London  [Gemini],  1559.  [One  of  the  earliest  books  on  anatomy  in  the  English 
language,  dedicated  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  containing  what  is  said  to  be  the 
first  portrait  of  this  Queen.] 

The  following  essay  is  an  early  imprint  of  our  own  country : 

Thomas  Cadwalader.  An  essay  on  the  West-India  dry-gripes.  Philadel- 
phia, B.  Franklin,  1745.  [One  of  the  rarest  American  imprints.  Tlie  only 
known  copy  containing  two  prefaces,  one  of  which  was   suppressed.] 

From  statistics  gathered  of  the  various  editions  published  of  the 


CADWALADER   HALL 

works  of  Harvey  for  a  paper  recently  issued  by  Dr.  S.  Weir  Mitchell, 
there  were  found  to  be  represented  in  the  various  medical  libraries 
in  this  countiy  and  in  Europe  forty-two  editions,  as  follows : 

Exercitatio   anatomica  de  motu   cordis    25 

Exercitationes  duas***  ad  Jo.  Riolanum 3 

Exercitationes    de  generatione    animalium    10 

Opera   omnia***    3 

Prelectiones    analomise    universalis     I 

The  library  of  the  College  of  Physicians  contains  33  of  the  42 
noted,  including  the  first  edition  of  the  "  de  motu  cordis,"  1628 ; 


16  THE    COL7.EGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

only  one  other  library,  the  Surgeon-General's  Office  at  Washington, 
containing  as  great  a  number — 33, 

The  library  is  divided  into  the  General  Library,  the  Lewis 
Library,  the  S.  D.  Gross  Library,  and  the  Library  of  the  Obstetrical 
Society  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  total  number  of  volimies  in  this 
collection  is  05,S96,  to  which  should  be  added  8917  unbound  theses 
and  dissertations  and  nearly  90,000  unbound  pamphlets. 

N^aturally,  the  expense  of  maintaining  so  important  a  collection 
of  books  is  considerable,  and  since  the  commencement  of  its  steady 
growtli,  in  1866,  the  fixed  charges  against  the  library  have  grown 
greater  year  by  year.  These  are  met  by  the  income  from  various 
library  funds  established  by  the  generosity  of  Eellows  and  friends 
of  the  College.  Certain  special  accounts — -for  example,  funds  for 
completing  files  of  journals,  the  Journal  Association  Xew  Book 
Fund,  the  J.  Ewing  Mears  account,  and  the  S.  D.  Gross  Library 
account — are  also  income-bearing,  while  the  income  of  the  George 
B.  Wood  fund  is  utilized  for  the  library  supplies.  But  the  Col- 
lege is  fortunate  in  the  generosity  of  Fellows  and  other  friends, 
and  the  good  example  set  so  long  ago  by  John  Morgan  continues. 
It  would  not  be  possible  to  name  all  those  to  whose  generosity  the 
growth  of  the  library  is  so  much  indebted,  but  many  volumes  have 
come  from  Drs.  S.  Weir  Mitchell.  J.  K.  Mitchell.  Hare,  Keen. 
Packard,  Dulles.  TTirst,  tho  late  Dr.  J.  Alison  Scott,  H.  C.  Wood. 
John  B.  Poberts,  and  others.  Iforeover.  the  prominent  publishing 
houses  of  Philadelphia  have  always  l^een  most  liberal  in  the  pres- 
entation of  books  coming  from  their  presses. 

About  3000  volumes  are  purchased  annually  with  the  funds  of 
the  College,  and  many  others  are  donated  by  the  authors,  publishers, 
and  friends  to  whom  reference  has  been  made. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  from  1896  to  1911,  8675  new 
medical  publications  in  English.  French,  German,  and  a  few  in 
other  languages  have  been  added  to  the  library,  and  of  these  575 
were  written  or  edited  by  Fellows  of  the  College. 

The  current  literature  of  the  day  in  all  modern  languages  is 
represented  by  periodical  publications,  and  at  this  time  the  total  num- 
ber of  such  periodical  publications  received  is  1203. 

The  libraiy  is  free,  and  is  open  to  any  one  who  is  interested 
in  the  vohimes  Avhich  rest  npon  its  shelves.      Onlv  Fellows  have  the 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


17 


privilege  of  taking  boolvs  from  the  building,  but  to  any  one  intro- 
duced by  a  Fellow  the  same  privilege  is  granted.  The  advantages 
of  the  library  are  freely  utilized ;  for  example,  in  1908,  more 
than  12,000  visitors  were  registered  and  nearly  23,000  books  were 
consulted.  It  is  unnecessary,  as  Dr.  Henry  says,  to  add  to  this 
statement  to  prove  that  the  College  of  Physicians  possesses  a  real 
working  library.  Its  great  influence  is  evident,  and  it  has  done 
much  to  maintain  the  well-known  literary  reputation  of  the  pro- 
fession of  this  citv  in  medical  matters. 


THOMSON    ROOM 


The  Homes  of  the  College  of  Physicians. — Since  the  institution 
of  the  College  on  the  2d  of  January,  1Y87,  until  its  removal  to  its 
present  splendid  quarters,  five  homes  have  sheltered  the  members 
of  its  guild  and  housed  the  treasures  of  its  library.  These  abodes, 
in  the  language  of  Dr.  Tyson,^  were,  first,  the  Academy  building 
on  Fourth  Street  for  nearly  five  years ;  second,  the  hall  of  the 
Philosophical  Society  for  nearly  fifty-three  years ;  third,  the  Mer- 


Transaetions  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  Third  Series,  vol.  xxx,  1908,  p. 


226. 


18  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIAXS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

cantile  Library  for  seven  years;  fourth,  the  Picture  House  in 
the  Pennsylvania  Plospital  grounds  for  eleven  years,  and,  fifth,  its 
OAvn  hall  at  Thirteenth  and  Locust  Streets  from  March,  1863,  until 
JSTovember  10,  1909,  when  it  moved  into  its  present  quarters,  ordi- 
narily known  as  the  'New  Hall  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

As  the  College  increased  in  influence  and  membership,  it 
became  evident  that  new  surroundings  were  necessary,  and  the 
first  building  fund  was  established  !N"ovember  2,  1849,  a  mem- 
orable date  in  its  history.  On  December  18,  1861,  the  College 
determined  to  begin  the  construction  of  the  building  at  Thirteenth 
and  Locust  Streets,  which  was  completed  and  occupied  for  the  first 
time  in  March,  1863,  The  great  generosity  of  Dr.  George  B.  Wood 
in  the  erection  of  this,  the  first  building  specially  designed  for  the 
College  of  Physicians,  must  never  be  forgotten.  Here  the  College 
remained  until  TsTovember,  1909,  but  fur  a  long  time  prior  to  its 
removal  it  was  evident  that  these  quarters  in  the  old  ivy-twined 
building,  loved  and  interesting  as  they  were,  could  no  longer 
adequately  store  the  ever-increasing  library  nor  accommodate  the 
various  meetings  which  took  place  within  its  walls.  It  would  not 
be  profitable  to  describe  the  various  plans  which  were  proposed 
before  finally  it  was  decided  to  purchase  the  lot  upon  which  the 
present  College  building  stands.  These  discussions  lasted  for  a 
period  of  eight  years,  and  after  the  institution  of  a  third  building 
fund  on  January  21,  1903  (a  second  building  fund  had  been  begun 
on  April  7,  1875),  the  lot  on  22d  Street  above  Chestnut  was  pur- 
chased on  May  29,  1903.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  building 
was  laid  by  Weir  ]\ritchell  on  April  29.  1908,  and  the  building 
was  completed  and  occupied  on  ISTovember  10  and  11.  1909,  and 
dedicated  with  impressive  ceremonies,  lasting  for  two   days.* 

The  erection  of  this  building  was  in  largest  measure  due  to  the 
unselfish  and  untiring  activity  of  the  Funds  Committee,^  to  the 
liberal  contributions  of  the  Fellows,  and  particularly  to  the  energy 

^  The  arranfjenients  of  the  ceremonies  of  dedication  were  siiccessfiilly  cairied 
out  by  a  committee  composed  of  Dr.  Charles'  H.  Frazier  (chairman).  Dr.  George 
W.  Norris,  Dr.  T.  Mellor  Tyson,  the  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  College. 

^  The  committee  to  collect  funds  was  composed  of  Dr.  S.  ^IcC.  Hamill  (chair- 
man), Drs.  T.  G.  Ashton,  J.  H.  Girvin.  D.  Braden  Kyle,  David  Riesman,  Alfred 
Stengel,  G.  C.  Stout,  C.  H.  Frazier.  and  the  Vice-President  of  the  College. 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


19 


20 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIAXS    OF    PTTILADELPHIA 


and  generosity  of  Dr.  S.  Weir  ^litcliell.  The  contributions  thus 
received,  together  with  the  splendid  donation  of  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie 
and  the  generous  financial  aid  given  by  Mrs.  Frederick  Penfield,  ^Irs. 
S.  Weir  Mitchell,  Mr.  Clement  Griscom,  Mr.  Dunwoody,  Mr.  Clement 
Newbold,  Mr.  W.  W.  Frazier,  Mr.  C.  C.  Harrison,  Mr.  Frederick 
Vanderbilt,  Mr.  Eckley  B.  Coxe,  Jr.,  and  manv  others,  whose  names 


VESTIBULE   LEADING   TO    MITCHELL    HALL    WITH    DOORS     LEADING    TO    ASHHURST    AND    NOKKIS     ROOMS 


are  gratefully  recorded  in  the  Transdcfions/'  furnished  enough  of 
the  needed  funds  to  authorize  the  Building  Committee  "  to  proceed 
with  the  erection  of  the  'New  Hall,  and  to  spend  the  sum  of  money 
that  was  indicated  as  necessary  by  the  plans  presented  by  the  archi- 
tects, ]\ressrs.  Stewardson  and  Jamieson.  So  satisfactory  was  the 
work  of  this  committee  that   in   liis   final   report   its  efficient  secre- 

*  Transactions  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  Third  series,  vol.  xxxi,  lOOf). 
This  volume  also  contains  a  full  account  of  the  exercises  on  the  occasion  of  the 
dedication  of  the  New  Hall  of  the  College  of  Physicians. 

''  The  Buiklintf  Committee  was  composed  of  Drs.  James  C.  ^^'ilson.  George 
B.  McClellan,  J.  K.  Mitchell,  Richard  H.  Harte,  Frederick  P.  Henry,  William  J. 
Taylor,  and  the  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  College. 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


21 


tary,  Dr.  William  J.  Taylor,  was  able  to  exhibit  a  balance  on  the 
credit  page  of  his  ledger.  Not  only  was  the  building  erected  accord- 
ing to  the  plans  draA\ni  by  the  architects  and  accepted  by  the  Fel- 
lows of  the  College,  but  with  the  aid  of  liberal  subscriptions  from 
friends  and  Fellows  of  the  College  the  various  halls  presently  to 
be  referred  to  were  furnished  in  an  eminently  satsifactory  manner. 
Such  indebtedness  as  remained  was  neutralized  by  the  generosity 
of  Mr.  Edward  Stotesbury,  in  the  presentation  of  a  large  sum  of 


ASHHURST  ROOM  CONTAINING  CARD  CATALOGUE,  INCUNABULA,  AND  REFERENCE  BOOKS 


money,  given,  to  use  his  own  words,  ''  to  relieve  the  College  from 
debt  and  leave  it  free  to  pursue  its  career  of  honorable  usefulness," 
The  New  Hall  of  the  College  of  Physicians.— Thus  it  came  about 
that  the  sixth  home  of  the  College  of  Physicians  was  erected  and 
occupied.  Speaking  of  this  new  hall,  the  Vice-President  of  the 
College,  addressing  the  secretary  of  the  Building  Committee  on  the 
day  of  presentation,  said :  "  On  behalf  of  the  President  and  of- 
ficers, and  in  the  name  of  the  Fellows  of  the  College,  T  have  the 
honor  to  accept  this  home,  of  mark  beyond  all  others,  to  accept  it 
with  pride  in  the  nobility  of  its  structure,  with  satisfaction  in  the 


22 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


iunplitiidc  of  its  uiiTivalled  equipment,  and  with  rejoicing  in  the 
completion  of  its  brave  and  generous  plans."  It  is  a  home  of 
which  the  College  and  its  Fellows  may  well  1)C  proud,  as  indeed 
may  be  the  citizens  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  It  affords  ample 
space  for  the  library,  it  provides  the  Fellows  with  adequate  read- 
ing rooms,  it  contains  large  halls  suitable  for  lectures  and  for  regular 
meetings,  not  only  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  but  of  other  scien- 
tific societies  which  are  accommo- 
dated within  its  walls,  and  it  con- 
tains the  splendid  collection  of 
the  ]\riitter  ]Museum,  composed  of 


•INCUNABULA      RARJ:    MEDICAL;BOOKS      AND    CARD.  CASE     CORNER    OF    ASHHURST   ROOM 


anatomical  and  other  specimens,  as  well  as  the  offices  of  the  Direc- 
tory of  Nurses  and  those  used  by  the  librarian  and  his  staff  of  as- 
sistants. 

The  style  of  architecture  is  English,  of  about  the  end  of  the 
seventeenth  century,  the  material  is  dark-red  brick  laid  Flemish 
bond,  with  basement  cornices,  pilasters,  and  other  trimmings  of 
Indiana  limestone.  The  building  itself  has  a  frontage  of  108  feet 
and  a  depth  of  150  feet,  and  stands  upon  a  lot  of  ground  130  feet 
front  by  180  feet  deep,  a  lot,  therefore,  of  sufficient  size  to  permit 
the  building  to  be  placed  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  street 
line  on  all  sides.      At  the  street  line  is  a  low  brick  wall  with  ]ua;h 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


23 


brick  posts  and  an  iron  railing  between  them.  Through  the  liberality 
of  friends  and  patients  of  the  late  Dr.  John  Forsyth  Meigs,  and 
under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  John  K.  Mitchell,  the  area  between 
the  railing  and  the  building  proper  has  been  planted  with  shrubbery 
and  grass.  Owing  to  the  great  generosity  of  Mr.  Eckley  B.  Coxe, 
Jr.,  certain  unsightly  buildings  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Col- 
lege, to  wit,  a  large  stable  and  three  mean  houses,  have  been  acquired 
by  the  College.  These  have  been  razed  to  the  gi-ound,  and  on  the 
space  thus  gained  there  will  be  erected  in  the  near  future  a  memorial 
to  the  late  vice-president  of  the  College,  Dr.  Wharton  Sinkler. 

To  accommodate  the  library  the  bookstack  was  erected,  which 
consists  of  seven  tiers  and  has  a  capacity  of  300,000  volumes.  Al- 
though fireproof  construction  is  used  throughout,  this  stack  is 
cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  building  by  fire  doors,  and  is  provided 
with  wire  glass  windows  in  metal  frames,  the  windows  being  pro- 
tected by  rolling  steel  fire  shutters. 

The  front  vestibule  and  main  hallway  and  staircase  are  floored 
and  wainscoted  with  Vennont  marble  of  different  shades.  The 
reception  hall  of  the  first  story 
is  wainscoted  to  the  ceiling  with 
"  silver  ava,"  a  light  gray  wood, 
having  been  selected  with  a  view 
to  harmonizing  with  the  marbles 
in  the  adjoining  hall.  On  the 
right  of  the  vestibule  are  the  ofiices 
of  the  l^urses'  Directory,  and 
on  the  left  the  superintendent's 
ofiice,  beyond  which,  opening  to 
the  left,  is  the  Hutchinson  recep- 
tion room,  provided  by  the  de- 
scendants of  Dr.  James  Hutchin- 
son, and  the  family  of  the  late  Dr. 
James  H.  Hutchinson.  A  broad 
stairway  leads  from  the  first 
fioor  upwards,  and  at  its  head 
stands  the  splendid  statue  of 
^sculapius,  a  replica  of  the 
one  in  the  Vatican,  the  gift  of  Dr. 


CORNER  OF   ASHHURST   ROOM 


24  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICLINS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

Kicliard  H.  Jdarte,  treasurer  of  the  (Joliege.  Beyond,  reached  by 
two  shorter  stairways,  is  the  large  vestibule  leading  iuto  the  luouu- 
mental  hall  which  occupies  the  front  portion  of  the  second  story. 
This  is  the  meeting  place  of  the  Jb'ellows  of  the  College  and  is  also 
a  portrait  gallery,  for  upon  its  walls  hang  the  portraits  of  the  for- 
mer presidents  and  vice-presidents  of  the  College.  This  hall,  named 
Mitchell  Hall,  in  honor  of  Weir  Mitchell,  was  furnished  by  the 
generosity  of  many  friends  and  h  ellows  of  the  College,  and  partic- 
ularly by  the  active  interest  of  Dr.  John  K.  Musser.  It  has  oak 
wainscoting,  pilasters,  a  deeply  cohered,  plastered  ceiling,  and  a 
seating  capacity  of  500.  its  proportions,  design,  and  decorations 
combine  to  make  this  a  hall  of  great  dignity  and  beauty.  Trom  its 
eastern  end  doors  lead  into  the  Ashhurst  and  oNorris  rooms,  and  at 
the  upper  end  on  each  side  are  the  entrances  to  the  Wood  and 
Packard  rooms.  The  former  was  furnished  by  the  Wood  family 
and  contains  a  marble  bust  of  Dr.  George  B.  Wood,  the  gift  of 
Messrs.  Craige,  Walter,  and  J.  Bertram  Lippincott,  and  a  bronze 
bust  of  Dr.  Horatio  C.  Wood,  the  gift  of  Messrs.  George  Wood  and 
George  Wood  Bacon,  its  walls  being  lined  with  the  mahogany  book 
shelves  of  the  late  Dr.  George  B.  Wood.  The  latter  was  furnished 
by  the  brothers  of  the  late  Dr.  I  rederick  A.  Packard,  and  in  it  the 
Library   Committee   holds   its   monthly  meetings. 

In  the  lower  hall  to  the  right  and  left  are  respectively  the 
Thomson  and  the  Cadwalader  rooms,  the  first  furnished  by  the 
children,  nephew,  and  nieces  of  the  late  Dr.  William  Thomson,  and 
the  second  by  Mrs.  S.  Weir  Mitchell.  On  each  side  of  the  head 
of  the  stairway  are  respectively  the  Norris  and  Ashhurst  rooms,  the 
first  furnished  in  memory  of  Dr.  William  T.  j^orris,  by  his  chil- 
dren, and  by  Mr.  Charles  Norris  and  Dr.  G.  E.  de  Schweinitz,  and 
the  second  furnished  by  Dr.  Kichard  H,  Harte  in  memory  of  the  late 
Dr.  John  Ashhurst,  Jr. 

The  Norris  room  contains  the  periodicals,  and  upon  its  shelves, 
suitably  lighted,  more  than  1200  current  periodicals  are  placed. 
Also  here  may  be  seen  many  rare  editions  of  old  medical  works.  The 
Ashhurst  room  contains  the  card  catalogue  and  the  bound  volumes 
of  the  most  important  and  actively  used  medical  journals,  the  only 
books  which  are  not  in  the  bookstack.  In  each  of  these  rooms  the 
walls  are  hung  with  numerous  prints,  engravings,  photographs  and 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA  ZO 

pictures.  Beyond  the  stairway  in  the  lower  liall  is  the  Miitter 
Museum  and  its  splendid  collection.  This  room  is  furnished  with 
an  iron  gallery  around  three  sides,  so  as  to  give  a  large  amount  of 
wall  space  for  cases. 

An  important  feature  of  this  new  hall  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians is  the  private  study  room.  A  large  number  of  these  rooms  are 
provided  on  the  second  and  mezzanine  floors,  and  here  the  Fellows 
of  the  College  may  work  free  from  interruption  and  surround  them- 


NORRI8    BOOM,    CONTAINING  CURRENT   PERIODICAiS 


selves  with  the  volumes  which  they  require  in  their  special  researches. 

The  Cadwalader  and  Thomson  rooms  are  utilized  by  various 
scientific  societies,  to  which  they  are  rented  by  the  Hall  Committee 
of  the  College ;  for  example,  the  County  Medical  Society,  the  Patho- 
logical Society,  the  jSTeurological  Societj^,  the  Philadelphia  Academy 
of  Surgery,  the  Obstetrical  Society,  and  the  various  Sections  of  the 
College  itself. 

Opening  from  the  left  of  the  northern  end  of  the  Hutchinson 


26  THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIAXS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 

receptioiL  room  is  the  entrance  to  the  Gross  Library,  furnislied  by 
the  Gross  family,  its  handsome  bookcases  being  the  gift  of  JJr.  J. 
Ewing  Mears;  in  this  room  take  place  the  meetings  of  the  Council 
of  the  College.  The  entire  equipment  of  the  building,  insofar  as 
heating,  lighting,  ventilating,  vacuum  cleaning,  pneumatic  tubes, 
electric  lifts,  and  intercommunicating  telephone  system  are  con- 
cerned, represents  the  latest  and  most  approved  designs. 

A  large  kitchen  in  the  basement  makes  it  possible  to  give  the 
official  dinners  of  the  College  in  the  New  Hall.  Provisions  for 
these  dinners  and  other  social  functions  arise  from  the  income  of 
the  Weir  Mitchell  Entertainment  Eund. 

To  two  adjuncts  of  the  College  of  Physicians  only  a  brief  refer- 
ence has  been  made,  and  therefore  a  word  in  regard  to  them  fol- 
lows: In  1849,  at  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Isaac  Parrish,  a  cabinet 
of  pathological  specimens  was  established,  and  later  a  curator  was 
elected  and  a  committee  on  the  museum  was  appointed.  This  mu- 
seum, after  thirteen  years  of  healthy  gTowth,  was  united  with  the 
Miitter  collection.  Dr.  Miitter  first  offered  his  museum  to  the  College 
in  1856,  but  for  various  reasons  the  agreement  which  constituted  the 
transfer  was  not  signed  until  December,  1858.  The  various  terms 
of  the  bequest  were  carried  out  as  carefully  as  possible  by  the  Col- 
lege, and  for  this  splendid  collection  of  specimens,  casts,  oil  paint- 
ings, water-colors,  etc.,  special  quarters  were  provided  in  the  build- 
ing at  Thirteenth  and  Locust  Streets,  where  it  remained  until  it  was 
transferred  to  its  present  situation  in  the  jS^ew  Hall.  Xot  only  did 
Dr.  Miitter  present  his  museum  to  the  College,  but  with  it  came 
a  handsome  endowment,  and  the  legacy  provides  for  the  appoint- 
ment once  in  three  years  of  a  lecturer  who  shall  discourse  on  some 
subject  connected  with  surgical  pathology.  The  first  lecture  was 
delivered  March  2,  1864,  by  Dr.  John  Packard,  and  since  then  this 
post  has  been  occupied  by  many  distinguished  surgeons  and  pathol- 
ogists, among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Harrison  Allen,  Dr. 
John  H.  Brinton,  Dr.  S.  D.  Gross.  Dr.  E.  O.  Shakespeare,  and  Dr. 
George  W.  Crile. 

The  museum  itself,  under  the  able  management  of  the  com- 
mittee in  charge  of  it,  has  gl•o^^^l  to  fine  proportions.  The  Hyrtl 
collection  of  human  skulls  and  preparations  by  erosion,  and  the 
Politzer   ear   specimens,    are    among   its    most    notable   possessions. 


THE    COLT.EGE    OF    PIIYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


27 


28 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    IMIILADELPIIIA 


The  museiuii  is  open  to  all  research  students,  medical  students,  and 
physicians  under  proper  regulations,  and  is  constantly  visited  by 
those  whose  investigations  require  the  study  of  its  specimens. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  S.  Weir  Mitchell,  a  Directory  for  Nurses 
was  organized  and  its  first  office  opened  in  May,  1882.  The  income 
of  this  directory  has  usually  been  in  excess  of  its  needs,  and  there- 
fore its  committee  has  been  able  to  add  materially  to  the  funds 
required  in  otlier  portions  of  the  College,  notably  to  those  of  the 


THE   BOOK   STACK 


library.  The  fee  formerly  asked  for  furnishing  a  nurse  is  now 
abolished,  and,  in  the  language  of  Dr.  Mitchell,  the  Directory  is 
as  free  as  is  the  library.  Its  great  use  can  be  described  in  a  sentence, 
namely,  that  since  1882  nearly  50,000  requests  for  trained  nurses 
have  been  received  by  its  directors. 

The  College  of  Physicians  administers  two  prize  funds,  from 
the  income  of  which  are  awarded  the  Alvarenga  Prize  and  the 
N"athan  TiCwis  Hatfield  Prize.     The  first  of  these  funds  was  given 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


29 


to  the  College  by  the  late  Pedro  Francisco  Da  Costa  Alvarenga, 
of  Lisbon,  Portugal,  who  was  an  Associate  Fellow  of  the  College, 
and  the  income  is  awarded  to  the  successful  competitor,  who  may 
^\'rite  on  any  subject  in  medicine,  by  a  committee  yearly  appointed. 
The  deed  of  trust  of  the  ISTathan  Lewis  Hatfield  Memorial  Fund 
is  administered  by  three  trustees,  and  the  income,  w^hich  must  never 
be  less  than  $500,  is  awarded  by  a  committee  appointed  triennially 


PRIVATE   STUDY    ROOM 


by  the  president  of  the  College  to  an  essay  which  must  represent 
original  research  in  medicine. 

Since  the  foundation  of  the  College  on  January  2,  1787,  935 
Fellows,  91  American  Associate  Fellows,  51  Foreign  Associates, 
and  8  Corresponding  Fellows  have  been  elected.  The  roll-call  at 
the  present  time  is :  Eesident  Fellows,  404 ;  ISTon-resident  Fellows,  27  ; 
Foreign  Associate  Fellows,  20 ;  Corresponding  Fellows,  4 ;  making, 
counting  4  whose  dues  have  been  remitted,  a  total  of  504. 

The   monthly   scientific   meetings   have   gro^^^^     in     importance, 


30 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA 


aud  during  each  year  between  thirty  and  forty  communications  are 
presented  on  the  floor  of  the  College.  The  average  attendance  has 
steadily  increased,  and  as  Fellows  are  permitted  to  invite  physicians 
not  members  of  the  College,  the  audience  is  always  an  inspiring  one. 
Two  years  ago  the  College  established  a  series  of  lectures  on 
"  Great  Doctors  and  Achievements  in  Medical  Research,"  to  which 
not  only  all  physicians  are  invited,  but  prominent  citizens  of  the 
municipality.  These  lectures  have  served  to  educate  the  public 
and  to  demonstrate  to  the  citizens  of  this  community  how  important 
is  the  influence  of  this  gi*eat  institution.  In  1910  the  Weir  Mitchell 
Lectures  of  the  College  of  Plivsicians  wove  created.     Distinsruished 


MEDAL   STRUCK    ON   THE   DEDICATION    OF   THE   NEW   HALL    OF  THE   COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS. 
DESIGNED    BY    PROFESSOR   H.  MC  KENZIE,  OF    PHILADELPHIA 


lecturers,  usually  from  a  distant  point,  are  invited,  exactly  as  they 
are  under  the  auspices  of  the  Harvey  Society  of  ISTew  York,  and 
among  these  lecturers  of  the  last  year  liave  been  Arthur  E.  Cushny 
of  London,  Edmund  Wilson  of  Columbia  University,  Svante 
Arrhenius  of  Stockholm,  and  William  T.  Porter  of  Harvard. 

As  constituted  at  present,  the  aft'airs  of  the  College  are  admin- 
istered by  the  following  officers :  President,  vice-president,  four 
censors,  a  secretary,  treasurer,  and  honorary  librarian.  The  Council 
of  the  College,  composed  of  the  officers  named,  the  chairman  of  the 
eight  standing  committees,  and  six  elective  councillors,  has 
supervision  of  the  affairs  of  the  College  and  executive  capacity  to 
act  upon  and  dispose  of  any  business  referred  to  it  by  resolution  of 


THE    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS    OF    PHILADELPHIA  31 

the  College,  specifying  power  to  act.  The  Council  reports  its 
decision  upon  all  matters  referred  to  it  by  the  College  for  such 
opinion,  and  submits  from  time  to  time  such  suggestions  as  it  shall 
believe  to  be  adapted  to  promote  the  objects  for  which  the  College 
was  instituted.  It  receives  the  monthly  reports  of  the  various 
standing  and  special  committees  and  makes  a  monthly  report  at 
each  stated  meeting  of  the  College.  Tt  passes  upon  the  names  of 
all  those  proposed  for  Fellowship.  The  standing  committees  are 
these:  Publication,  Library,  Miitter  Museum,  Hall,  Directory  for 
T^urses,  Finance,  Entertainment,  and  Scientific  Business. 

In  his  inaugural  address  the  first  president  of  this  College  of 
Physicians  prayed  that  wisdom,  prudence,  discretion,  and  judgment 
would  be  granted  unto  the  Fellows  to  conduct  their  affairs  to  good 
effect  and  useful  purposes,  and  prayed  further  that  those  who  heard 
him  and  that  those  who  were  to  follow  in  their  footsteps  would 
publicly  and  privately  serve  their  generation.  This  we  believe  they 
have  done,  and  we  know  that  the  College  of  Physicians  has  been  a 
great  good  in  this  city,  in  this  country,  and  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  advancement  of  medical  science  in  all  lands. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Of  the  establishment  and  history  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadel- 
phia a  number  of  notable  accounts  have  been  written  and  published,  to  wit: 
"  An  Accovmt  of  the  Institution  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia," 
by  Dr.  W.  S.  W.  Ruschenberger,  its  president  from  1879  until  1883  {Transac- 
tions of  the  College  of  Physicians,  Third  Series,  vol.  ix,  1887)  ;  "Reminiscences 
of  the  College  of  Physicians,"  by  Dr.  Alfred  Stillg,  its  president  from  1883  until 
1884  {Transactions  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  Third  Series,  vol.  ix,  1887)  ; 
"  A  Commemoration  Address  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of 
the  Institution  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia,"  by  Dr.  S.  Weir 
Mitchell,  its  president  from  1886  until  1889.  and  from  1892  until  1895  {Trans- 
actions of  the  College  of  Physicians,  Third  Series,  vol.  ix,  1887)  ;  "An  Account 
of  the  Library  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia,  1788  to  1906,"  by 
Charles  Perry  Fisher,  for  a  number  of  years'  its  assistant  librarian,  and  at 
present  librarian  and  superintendent  of  the  building  {Transactions  of  the 
College  of  Physicians,  Third  Series,  vol.  xxviii,  1906)  ;  "Early  Medical  Libraries 
in  America,  Being  an  Account  of  the  Origin  and  Growth  of  the  Libraries  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital  and  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia,"  by 
Dr.  Francis'  R.  Packard,  a  member  of  the  Library  Committee  {Medical  Library 
and  Historical  Jotirnal,  June,  1907);  "The  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadel- 
phia," by  Dr.  J.  Norman  Henry,  a  member  of  the  Hall  Committee  ("Founder's 
Week  Memorial   Volume,"  Philadelphia,   1908);    "The   College  of  Physicians   of 


.32 


THE    COLLEGK    0¥    PTIYSTCTAXS    OF    PTIILADELPHIA 


Philadelphia,"  by  Dr.  W.  W.  Keen,  its  president  from  1900  until  1902  [British 
Medical  Journal,  October  10,  1909);  "Address  on  the  Dedication  of  the  New 
Hall  of  the  College,"  by  Dr.  James  Tyson,  its  president  from  1907  until  1910 
(Transactions  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia,  Third  Series,  vol. 
xxxi,  1909);  "Historical  Sketch  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia," 
by  Dr.  Frederick  P.  Henry,  its  honorary  librarian  (Neio  York  Medical  Journal, 
November  13,  1909)  ;  "Additional  Facts  and  Observations  relative  to  the  Nature 
and  Origin  of  the  Pestilential  Fever,"  Philadelphia,  1806;  "Address  from  a 
Special  Committee  to  the  Medical  Societies  of  the  United  States  concerning  the 
Dangers  to  which  the  Country  is  exposed  by  the  Ineffectual  Methods  of  Quar- 
antine at  its  Ports,"  1887;  Centennial  Celebration — "Catalogue  of  Loan  Col- 
lection of  Portraits,"  1887;  "Draught  of  the  Pharmacopoeia,"  prepared  by  Drs. 
Hewson,  Wood,  and  Bache,  as  a  Committee  of  the  College  of  Physicians,  2  vols., 
1831;  "Medico-legal  Report  on  the  Schoeppe  Murder  Trial,"  1869;  "Report  to 
the  Board  of  Health  on  Epidemic  Cholera,"  1832;  the  articles  mentioned  in  the 
first  footnote.  Necessarily  it  is  from  these  sources  that  the  material  for  this 
sketch  has  been  derived,  and  from  them,  too,  many  statements  have  been  quoted. 
This  narrative  also  includes  certain  events  of  more  recent  occurrence  and  a  few 
facts  not  previously  published. 


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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below.        "-■    ^    ^ 


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